Africa CDC and WHO Unveil Joint $518M Plan to Combat Ebola Outbreak
June 5 (UPI) -- The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday unveiled a joint response plan to tackle the ongoing Ebola outbreak that has already claimed dozens of lives in Central Africa.
With the Bundibugyo species of the Ebola virus—a strain that currently has no licensed vaccine—driving the outbreak, the plan focuses on strengthening health systems and boosting cross-border collaboration to improve treatment and slow transmission. The initiative calls for raising $518 million to help African nations prepare for, rapidly detect, and respond to the virus.
Since mid-May, the WHO has confirmed 381 cases and 64 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the outbreak is centered, along with 16 cases and one death in neighboring Uganda. Earlier estimates of more than 1,000 suspected cases and roughly 250 suspected deaths remain a subject of debate among officials and experts, though the BBC reported Friday that some officials—including those in the DRC—have backed away from publicly discussing those higher figures.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC) on Friday published a modeling analysis that warns the outbreak could explode into tens of thousands of cases within just a few months if containment efforts fall short. According to the analysis, if the response fails to isolate at least 20% of infected individuals, there is a 65% chance the outbreak will surpass 20,000 cases in the next three months. However, if more than 70% of patients are isolated, the probability of exceeding 10,000 cases drops to around 5% over the same period.
“Ebola moves fast. Africa must move faster,” said Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa CDC, in a press release. “This joint plan gives the continent a clear path to act with speed and unity: to save lives, support the affected countries, and protect neighboring communities.”
The plan’s funding will support disease surveillance, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control, clinical care, logistics, and the maintenance of essential health services. The coordinated push comes as the Bundibugyo strain continues its rapid spread from the DRC into Uganda, straining already fragile health systems.
Historically, Ebola outbreaks have been contained through rigorous contact tracing and isolation, but the lack of a vaccine for this particular strain—coupled with cross-border movement and limited healthcare infrastructure—makes the current situation especially challenging. The Africa CDC and WHO emphasized that without immediate and sustained investment, the outbreak risks spiraling out of control, potentially overwhelming regional capacities.